Chapter Twenty Two.
"They're going to be just fine Tsume-Sama." Said Shibi reassuringly as she smiled and went into her kitchen to fetch them all some tea. The parents of Team 8 decided to have a discussion regarding their children and their futures.
"You're right, Shibi-Sama. It's just a bit of a shock I guess."
"So, Shino is going to ask the Mizukage's permission to course her niece?" Hiashi stated as he put down the cup of green tea he had been drinking. They had all only ever met once and that was on the day their children had graduated from the academy. They all showed their care in their own respective ways. Hiashi sat and smiled as his daughter showed to him her forehead protector before placing it in his hand and bowing. Shibi put his arms around Shino's shoulders as he said "Well done, Shino" As they walked home and Tsume cheered loudly to the running Kiba as she scooped him in her arms and praised him loudly.
They were all very different from each other but the time had come to meet again; noble families and ordinary ones. Tsume felt a little out of place as her family was not of the original four noble clans of Konoha but she was still proud of her Clan's achievements. Hana was the most experienced vet throughout the five countries; Kiba was now the leader of the Clan and had (to a certain degree) matured greatly. She was a specialist ninja within her field and as such, much respected within their community.
"Yes Hiashi-Sama. We have prepared in case of bad news, of course. But they do truly seem in love with each other."
"I feel sorry for you both…" Hiashi said, smiling slightly as he leaned back into the wooden chair. "… I think having girls is easier when it comes to love."
Tsume nodded but Hiashi noticed the smirk. He almost forgot she had both a daughter and a son. "Hiashi-Sama… in some ways, yes it is."
"How do you mean, Tsume-Sama?" He asked, curiously.
"Hinata is a very beautiful woman. It must be hard for you both knowing one day she will get married and leave home." Tsume filled both his and Shibi's cups again with more tea.
Hiashi laughed lightly and took another sip of tea, shaking his head. "How can she leave us? We are her family. And besides, she thankfully no longer loves that baka of a Hokage."
The three parents nodded solemnly. Word of what had happened reached them from their children but they had enough respect for each not to say what they knew.
"I think Kiba will soon ask Joleen if she wants a puppy." Hiashi and Shibi looked confused and Tsume explained.
"In our Clan, when a member wants a person to join the family, they offer them a special ninken puppy."
"So that is why Aoba now has a dark-haired puppy following him around everywhere." Shibi state and Tsume nodded after taking a bite from a plate filled with different cakes and biscuits.
"Yes, Hana asked him last month. They will get married in two months time."
"Congratulations." Both men said in unison and though it sounded flat and cold, she knew their children well enough to know it was just their way of talking.
"Thank you. I hope you don't mind me asking you both if you and your families would like to come?" Tsume asked. She was unsure if they would accept the invitation but it would have felt wrong not to have asked them."
"I think our family would like that." Though Hiashi. Hinata would have come home by then and it would give her time to meet new people and perhaps potential husbands that could help the family. "Do you think the Mizukage will attend?"
Tsume's smile was big. "Her niece is going to be the flower girl. Hinata as I'm sure you know will be a bridesmaid and Joleen as maid of honour." She remembered the shock on the Joleen's face when Hana asked her and she embraced her.
Shibi smiled at the look of the two parent's faces and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm used to being ignored, so don't worry about me." Tsume snapped her head to him, the polite air about her quickly going.
"What do you mean 'ignoring you'? How could anyone forget you? You're the man who helped me deal with Kiba when his father wasn't here. You're going to be helping give her away, baka?"
"Huh?" That stopped his brain from functioning. "She wants me to give her away… what about her brother?"
"Aoba asked him to be his best man and even though his Clan Leader, he's a bit young to pretend to be her father-figure… what do you say, Shibi-Sama?"
Shibi was moved beyond words and Hiashi smiled at the fish-like expression on the man's face.
"Tsume-Sama, Shibi-Sama I think would like to do that too."
"Thanks, Hiashi-Sama."
"No problem. I owe you both a lot." Hiashi spoke quietly but meant it. His daughter had always been protected by their sons for as long as he could remember. Even now with all their responsibilities, they put her first.
"No, you don't." Tsume said, smiling at him and offering him another cake. Hiashi smiled and took one before she offered some to Shibi.
"Our children have taught me a lot." Shibi said and the three nodded at the comment, sipping tea and chatting quietly.
After flying through the air with the help of Joleen, they reached the crossroads within a couple of hours. The sensation was incredible and Akamaru and Kiba both had their tongues hanging from the sides of their mouths like dogs in a car when they stick their heads out of a car window when moving.
They landed gently and when Nina saw her fellow Kiri-nin waiting for them, his sword as always on his back with Suigetsu and Jūgo by his sides, she beamed at Chōjūrō and hugged him, nearly knocking his glasses off. Sino looked angrily at the two and snarled. She quickly let go of him and asked how her Aunt was.
"Oh, she's doing well but misses you." Chōjūrō answered but not before Suigetsu and Jūgo joined in on the conversation.
"She's been threatening people if they so much as mention absences, missing, niece or insects." Jūgo added. Suigetsu smirked at the memory.
"Yeah, good times. I loved aggravating her."
Nina scowled at him, sending the ground before his feet turn to mud as he instantly sank in up to his knees. Jūgo laughed before giving him a hand.
"I've told you leave red-headed woman alone. Ever since Konan, you can't seem to keep away from them." After he was out of the mud, Suigetsu merely shrugged.
"Man's got to have a hobby. Annoying her was my 2nd favorite one."
"Was?" Jūgo said and saw Suigetsu ear tips go pink. "Oh crap! Not the statue again."
He nodded and looked as least threatening as a white-haired, sharp toothed psychopath possibly could do. "The statue is hot."
"It's not real…" Jūgo said laughing before Joleen cleared her throat and shaking her head, walked towards them. Kiba, Yamato and Akamaru walked along with her.
"Yeah?" Suigetsu said with a wicked smile and teasing in his voice.
"She's not a fake statue… I turned her into one. She's my sister and she's going to jail."
"That will certainly NOT put him off." Jūgo said amused. It's like telling a sugar addict that the girl he loved was built from sugar cubes.
"I get the feeling she's going to like you." Joleen said, shaking her head and smiling. Yamato laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "This is starting to feel like a family reunion."
Suigetsu and Jūgo looked at him laughed too.
"Yeah." Jūgo agreed and as the three male prisoners chatted between themselves, Joleen turned to Kiba and Akamaru. Kiba winked at her and Akamaru barked encouragingly. She felt loved and supported in a way she hadn't felt since she was a young child with her brother.
Chōjūrō then turned to his cousin, who was standing closely by Kakashi's side and noticed they were holding hands. "It's good to see you again, Hinata-Sama. I am happy to see you've come back."
"I have some things to tell you. The Clan would like us to know if we really are related and for us to find out what really happened to Lady Hyuuga."
"Well," Chōjūrō said adjusting his glasses whilst his smile shone brightly at her. "Ao gave me some information that has been backed up with evidence. We know what happened to her and why."
Hinata's eyes widened and Kakashi squeezed her fingers, making her blush slightly. "Can you tell me along the way to Kirigakure?" Chōjūrō nodded and offering his hand to her, she gave him her free one. Kakashi kissed her hand and let her gently pull away from him.
"Pakkun is going to be going with you and staying by your side until I meet you in Kirigakure in 2 weeks time. If you need me, he'll come and bring me back." He summoned Pakkun, who looked at the two of them and smiled.
"Well, I see things have improved for you both. I guess you'd like me to make sure that Hinata-Sama doesn't forget you." Pakkun joked and Kakashi's fist curled up tightly into a ball.
"As far I knew you and Akamaru had a double date planned for next week… am I right?"
"Touché, Kakashi. We'll see you soon." Pakkun replied and walked over to Hinata's side. Hinata winked at Kakashi and he smiled at her.
Shino then walked up to Nina and offering her his hand, asked for her to take it and lead her away from the potentially dangerous Suigetsu and Jūgo.
"Nina-Sama, shall we go and see your Mizukage?"
She beamed and took his hand in both of hers.
"Let's go, I'll get us there quickly."
Nina looked up at the clouds and raising her free hand up, summoned a large cloud down onto the cloud. She and Shino climbed on, as did then everyone else accept Kakashi who waved them goodbye. She then allowed the cloud to rise and they rode the air current generated by Joleen toward Kirigakure.
Mei-Sama was pacing the floor of her office and lit yet another fire in her office. She couldn't stand waiting to know if her niece was safe and well. "Stupid Hokage!" She yelled and spat a fireball at the already lit fire and went to sit in her chair again. The desk was littered with paper work regarding the rebellion but she just didn't have the stomach to do it.
It was then, when her arms covered her face as she was about to cry that the door was knocked.
"Enter." She said straightening up and she saw Chōjūrō, Suigetsu, Jūgo, Yamato, Joleen, Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Nina, Hinata and Pakkun come in. Seeing Nina enter, she ran from the desk and embraced her.
"I got your cloud an hour ago. What happened?" Mei-Sama looked relieved at having her niece back safely and winked at Shino. Shino looked confused and blushed.
"Everything is fine." Nina said, looking joyfully at her aunt. "Hinata is safe, as we all are." She reassuringly stated.
Mei then went up to Hinata and hugged her too. "You have been amazing, Hinata." Hinata patted the Mizukage on the back. It felt almost like a mother-daughter could possibly feel. She enjoyed it.
"I did nothing … you niece and our friends protected me." Hinata said truthfully.
"Ao has been discharged and is at our home. He wants to see you and everyone there."
"Can this be trusted, Hinata-Chan?" Pakkun asked and the Mizukage suddenly noticed he was there. "Mizukage-Sama, forgive me. I am Pakkun, Kakashi Hatake's Chief Ninken. He asked me to play messenger boy for him."
The Mizukage was surprised at how the cute pug spoke, especially in such a deep male voice but smiled at him.
"Where is Kakashi-Sama now? And yes, Ao has recovered and adjusted to the new chakra within him."
"He's… organising a few things for a couple of week's time." He winked at Mei-Sama whose eyes widened as she grinned.
"I see…" She could feel love in the air as she looked at the couples around her. Suigetsu and Jūgo then approached her and asked her something.
"We want to guard the statue of the woman in the square, Mizukage-Sama?"
"Granted." She said before seeing Joleen approach her, baring a scroll. Joleen handed it to her and as Mei read, Joleen nodded at Suigetsu and Kiba went up to her side and stood by her.
"This… is a hard request to accept."
"Mizukage-Sama," interjected Yamato and Mei looked at the handsome man. "SS, Suigetsu, Jūgo, myself and the prisoner were once under the control of Orochimaru. A strange family, but one born out of his quest for immortality. She's a part of us. We want to help her, as does Konoha."
"Brother … maybe we should ask her where she wants to go." Yamato punched her gently on the shoulder and Mei smiled.
"I agree. How do we free her without her attacking?" Mei asked.
"I will hold her in a wooden prison far in the air whilst SS frees her. I suggest we do this at a time the villagers are away ... is there such a time?"
Mei nodded. "The next 'Great Rain Festival' next season would be best. Can you come back and show your handsome face again here?" She bit her lip and Chōjūrō nearly blew his lid, but Hinata took his hand and squeezed it.
"Mei-Sama, may we trouble you to prepare a DNA test?" Hinata asked.
"The paper work was already handed in. Just go to the hospital when you are next both ready. Chōjūrō, I need you urgently again tonight. Is this okay?"
"Always, Mei-Sama." Blood pumped to his head and Mei licked her lips.
"You will all be staying with us tonight. We all have many things to discuss and plans to make, I think." She looked at her niece who was looking at Shino adoringly. They then left the office; Hinata, Pakkun and Chōjūrō heading to the hospital and the others to the Mizukage's home.